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REGULAR MEETINGAUGUST 22, 2005
<br />Ms. Noreen Dean-Moran, 716 W. Colfax, South Bend, Indiana, advised that they have
<br />been a lot of newspaper coverage, but she would not argue that here today. She stated
<br />that Matthew: 25, to feed the hunger, give drink to the thirsty and cloth the naked and that
<br />is a very good thing. She complimented the Catholic Worker House; they service and
<br />purpose are very good, it just needed to be in a place that was legal and safe for the
<br />people. She stated that the idea of it being in a home and not institutional is not
<br />reasonable. Most people in the dead of winter do not have an extra 25 people in their
<br />homes. That is not quite a home, but there are people in the neighborhood who own
<br />property, who charge very low rents because they know that the people who are their
<br />tenants want their own place, want that sense of self-determination and need something
<br />that is less costly. She knows of people who have provided food, license plates, gasoline
<br />for cars and even cigarettes and rent for people and did it while they stayed where they
<br />were because that was what that person needed. They did not get donations that came out
<br />every time they went shopping themselves. There are people in the neighborhood who
<br />have taken a family or a single person who needs help in. They do this in the same issue
<br />of Matthew: 25, but do not do it in an institutional way as a matter of fact open their
<br />home for as long as the people needed in regular zone code situation. The issue of the
<br />need and what we are doing is very important and if the need is so great, but it has to be
<br />run as an institutional situation, then the City or other groups need to provide something
<br />such as 744 S. Main, which the Catholic Worker said they don’t want to use for sleeping
<br />arrangements because it is not as homey. The zoning issue is important, and should not
<br />be ignored. The reasoning being that the Catholic Workers House is a prime example of
<br />not enforcing the zoning laws and keep five apartments in what would only be a two-
<br />place apartment. Multi-family is plenty available in the area, the area that is not available
<br />is single-family housing. The Catholic Worker House is in the wrong place and asks the
<br />City to keep that in mind.
<br />Mr. Daniel Holm, 113 Laurel, South Bend, Indiana, advised that various representatives
<br />of the Catholic Workers in various meetings stated that they have helped to stabilize the
<br />neighborhood, by offering their services. This is actually wrong, they have illegally have
<br />been using houses, they have destabilized the neighborhood, as you look around the room
<br />and listen to people discuss this, there are actually people who live in the neighborhood
<br />who are angry about the lack of regard the Catholic Workers have for the neighborhood,
<br />and they believe that they are above the law. Their presence has been devise and is
<br />making neighbors take sides on an issue that should have never been raised in the first
<br />place. Specifically, the Catholic Worker House using homes zoned for single-family use
<br />as multiple family houses. The issue of respect, the respect being shown to the
<br />community by enforcing illegal uses of homes by the Catholic Workers is total lack of
<br />respect for the law. We can be easily sidetracked by emotions, but the issue is that they
<br />are in the wrong. They can either obey the law, or change the law, but they do not have
<br />the right to break the law, no matter how worthy the cause.
<br />Mr. John Hamilton, 913 W. Colfax, South Bend, Indiana, advised that he has spent a lot
<br />of money refurbishing a home that was once owned by Dick Doyle, as his office, that
<br />home was built in the 1880’s. Mr. Hamilton stated that he is here tonight to talk about
<br />the law. References to religion from the Catholic Worker, but what struck him was their
<br />reliance upon a threatened lawsuit to some how badger the City into backing off from
<br />what the City has in the form of a valid zoning ordinance. An ordinance that this
<br />organization has ignored. The question is whether or not this legislation that the Catholic
<br />Worker is depending upon, a very lengthy named statute. The key in this legislation is
<br />whether or not the City by enforcing a uniformly applied and fairly activated piece of
<br />legislation unduly burdens religious expression. The appropriate place is not in single-
<br />family zoning. Bottom line, if litigation is necessary, the Neighborhood Association will
<br />be there with the City, and as far as he can tell for what it is worth, it looks like the City is
<br />in a very strong position.
<br />Mr. Mike Griffin, 1126 W. Washington, South Bend, Indiana, advised that the Catholic
<br />Worker would like to keep the dialogue open for discussion with all the neighbors. The
<br />Catholic Worker House is willing to compromise; they have taken the step that the
<br />neighborhood organization suggested. They have cut their numbers down, even when
<br />that meant saying no to a lot of homeless people that they know and love. Mr. Griffin
<br />apologized for maybe not communicating with the neighbors a little better. Mr. Griffin
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